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- Category: Normandy Coast of France cruises 2017
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Tuesday 27th June Ref: 2017/12b
It had been showering off and on and looked as if it might stop but then it started drizzling and that developed into heavy rain that lasted for the rest of the day. We therefore decided to cast off and join the convoy of three yachts that were massing for the first convoy of the day; starting just where we were moored at Pegasus Bridge at 10.10am.
I headed for the opening bridge, reckoning that we had been moored and waiting so they would not mind me leading the convoy. One large yacht seemed to think otherwise and, as I held back waiting for the others to make it a tight fleet for the bridges, he stormed ahead at 6 Knots (despite the publicised speed for the Orme Canal convoys being 5) and I tried signalling and addressing him on my loud hailer but he was arguing and not taking the point. It did him absolutely no good at all, as I still held back until the other two yachts joined me and he had to wait at the next bridge as the bridge-keeper was always going to wait for the yachts to be together before letting us through! After that, he slowed down and tried to get me close to him but I slowed too until I was in touch with the other two and he learnt his lesson and held back. Once we were through the town bridge into the Caen Basin, he quickly moored and shot off no doubt from embarrassment and I chatted to the other two skippers.
Despite the rain, we connected up our water hose and washed and rinsed Lady Martina and then started topping up the water tank but Kathleen noticed a funny noise behind the microwave and I saw the aft bilge pump running far too often so our next saga began. I first stripped the saloon of all of our furnishing and delved into the area close to my port shaft to look at the stern gland. It was dripping regularly but nothing much more than it had been and so that was not the cause. I did try tightening it but could not move the large nuts anyway.
It then became obvious that there was a leak from our pressurised domestic water system behind the galley cupboards and this needed the whole saloon contents to be changed so that I could get to the starboard side. First, I dismantled the cupboard under the hob and this took a while but at least Broom build their boats so that access exists, however difficult. Once we got behind there, we could see the problem leak and it was in the pressurised cold water system but at a junction behind the microwave! I had to remove the stairs alongside it and then eventually found out how this appliance was secured in and, by managing to remove the four screws securing the two special blocks at the top, I could free the microwave but then came the next problem. The mains supply cable was not long enough to enable it to be withdrawn from the cabinet and so the next thing was to lengthen it! With two 3-way terminal blocks safely housed in two plastic boxes, I completed that surgery and now the connected microwave could sit on the kitchen work surface. Phew!!
I next removed the back of the cupboard housing the microwave and its base and could then properly access a group of three ‘L’-shaped pipe unions, the middle one of which leaked a lot under pressure. I removed the offending fitting and was disappointed to find that the harbourmaster did not arrive to open his office at the time of 14.30pm, stated on his door, because I wanted to know where the nearest chandler or plumber was for I had planned to buy replacement unions to a much higher design or quality.
When he did appear later, he was of no assistance at all, saying that the nearest were at Ouistrehem and he knew even less English than I knew French. I decided to refit the offending union but to make a far better job of it this time and that I eventually did, the resulting job holding for the rest of the day at least. Kathleen had a shower and put the washing machine on to give it a good check and the system seemed to have settled down again.
Temp 21>24 deg C, RH 80>74%, Pressure 1005 mb steady, rain, good viz, smooth and little wind inland
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- Category: Normandy Coast of France cruises 2017
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Thursday 29th and Friday 30th June Ref: 2017/13
On the first day, I filled the water tank again after we had completed two large washing machine cycles and then dropped off the marina electronic quay and we were ready to go. Lady Martina was moored in quite a confined space but I expertly used both engines and the bow thruster to extract us which attracted not only interest but obvious admiration from the men working on the marina electrics and a few other spectators. We were the only boat in this ‘convoy’ and so took our time and got all three bridges to open in sequence as we made our way down the Orne canal and eventually moored at the Pegasus Bridge in the same spot as a few days ago.
On day two, we set off from Pegasus Bridge after lunch and found the river as quiet as yesterday. There was not very far to go but we cruised at 5 knots and were just pleased that the overnight gusts and winds had stopped and we enjoyed the views and trip and then had no trouble in pulling into the Ouistrehem Marina and mooring up at the visitor’s pontoon as their first arrival today. Others arrived later but by that time we had commissioned our folding bikes, cycled off to check out the ferry terminal for our arrangements for tomorrow’s crossing and then cycled back and along to the commercial yards for a very good look around an excellent chandlery; the best I had found in France so far this trip.
Whilst at Pegasus Bridge, I was interested in the nearby Ranville wartime cemetery, which was the resting place of over 2,000 soldiers who perished in the Normandy landings and the aftermath, including the young pilot who was the first to die when his glider crash landed in the first assault and the Lieutenant who was shot on Pegasus bridge when leading his assault pontoon as the first victim shot in action. I found out where the cemetery was and I cycled there. It is a magnificent place and kept, as always by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission, in immaculate and beautiful condition. It is the resting place of over 2,000 soldiers who perished in the Normandy landings and the aftermath, including the young pilot who was the first to die when his glider crash landed in the first assault and the Lieutenant who was shot on Pegasus bridge when leading his assault pontoon as the first victim shot in action.
This day. we were offered a more protective mooring in a ‘box’ but I was quite happy alongside on the visitor’s pontoon and said I was quite happy if anyone needed to raft up against me during the week. We had another nice meal and I then prepared Lady Martina to be ready for her week of inactivity and also caught up with my writings, log-work and web sites before turning in for another very early morning’s journey!
Day 1: Temp 22>24 deg C, RH 60>35%, Pressure 996 mb steady, rain, good viz, smooth and little wind inland <6knots SSWly
Day 2: Temp 22>28 deg C, RH 73>57%, Pressure 1013 mb steady, rain, good viz, smooth and breezy by coast <10knots Nly
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- Category: Normandy Coast of France cruises 2017
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Saturday 8th July Ref: 2017/14
I had planned for us to make an early start and this was what exactly what we did today, starting the engines at 7.15am this morning and then leaving the moorings at Ouistrehem around 7.30am in order to be ready to enter the 8.00am lock for an exit to the sea. A good cruise from Ouistrehem to Deauville on a fine, warm and sunny day and then a good cycle ride around Deauville and Trouville before dinner on Lady Martina and then some rather last-minute cruise planning to Honfleur. The journey went well, with a good following tide and we arrived, as intended, a half hour before high water
We were hardly alone in that 8am lock out from Ouistrehem to the sea as there were nearly 40 boats that joined us in the lock and then formed a huge echelon when the exit gates opened. Before this, we held our own, found a mooring in the lock and allowed another large Dutch boat to come alongside. Having dropped around 1.9m to sea level the other side, we left the lock and had lots of boats speeding past us; competing for the best fishing spots to the north-west of the port and they made plenty of wash whilst doing so, which made it quite exciting for Kathleen.
During the cruise, one of my GPS sets lost signal and I had to rely upon the other one but that is why we have two and i got it working my re-making the connections whilst underway.
The entrance to Deaville/Trouville was fine and without difficulty and. On this occasion, I opted to cruise through Deauville basin and then enter Bassin Morny. Traditionally, the visitor moorings have involved rafting on the starboard side but there are now mooring boxes there and we were waved and directed to moor alongside on a long pontoon on the port side as we entered there and did so. It was a comfortable and well-serviced mooring but was also situated a huge building site. It seems that the older part of the dock, once the situation for the local fisherman, has not been taken over for a posh new development of riverside apartments which are being offered ‘either for dwellings or for investment purposes’.
We used the high water pressure here with our portable hose and gave Lady Martina its first thorough wash down since we left Grandcamp Maisy and then I walked over to the harbour office (after it had opened again after lunch) and paid for a day’s stay and got details of the internet connection. We put up the sun canopy, brought out and assembled the folding chairs and then unloaded the bikes and commissioned then ready for a long ride around this delightful port
Temp 20>28 deg C, RH 70>52%, Pressure 1018>1019 mb steady, fine, good/mod viz, smooth/slight seas with breeze mainly NWly <8knots
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Saturday 8th July Ref: 2017/14
Another good cruise from Deauville to Honfleur on an even warmer and sunnier day, judging the gate opening times and tides perfectly at each end and arriving just in time for the bridge lift into the inner Vieux harbour. It was a late decision to leave Deauville today for the cruise to Honfleur and this meant lots of preparations under pressure which continued into this morning, first thing. However I overcame the difficulties, worked out exactly when to leave and how fast we should go in order to arrive at Honfleur after the sea locks had changed to ‘free-flow’ and in time for the last bridge lift before lunch and into the historic Vieux harbour in the very centre of this delightful place.
The main problem that I faced was in calculating the high and low water times of both Deauville and Honfleur by their differences from the standard port, Le Havre. Depending upon whether the date is close to Neap or Spring tides, the differences vary and I was getting confused by conflicting information I was receiving. Furthermore, just like the Solent, there is a double high tide in these parts to add to the confusion. I was reasonably confident today that High Tide at Honfleur was around 10.45 UTC which meant 12.45 French summer time and so, given the today barrier was normally open around 2 hours before and after, I reckoned that we needed to leave as soon as possible from Deauville. Here the gates were open 2.5hrs before and after and by my calculations that meant we could exit the port around 9.30am LT. First thing this morning, I noticed the harbour office open and so made it my business to go and ask them (all in French) what time the gates opened this morning and it was 9.20am, just 10mins out from my calculation!
We were right ready for that and were just one of two boats exiting today in stark contrast to yesterday. This extra few minutes let me slow down to a more economical speed and I arrived at Honfleur at exactly the right time and so caught the open sluices and then the last of the bridge openings before the lunchtime break to arrive at the very attractive Vieux harbour where we could raft up against two Dutch boats and stay in the very centre of this great historic city.
It was another very hot and sunny day and so I switched the air-conditioning on, put up the sun canopy and then rested for ages reading my book on ‘Pegasus Bridge’ and relaxing. It had been a very smooth passage and I had judged everything correctly to arrive at a nice mooring and I was very pleased. Later on, when it was cooler, we ventured out for a walk around this stunning historical and artistic place, with its countless restaurants and tourist attractions that made us feel very fortunate to be here.
We ended the day very happy but also very tired and looking forward to some rest and recuperation after two successive days’ cruising.
Temp 32 deg C, RH 57>43%, Pressure 1013mb steady, good viz, smooth seas with breeze mainly NNEly <9knots
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Wednesday 12th July Ref: 2017/15
A late decision to cruise from Honfleur to Le Havre and probably not the best one but we managed it. I awoke this morning to the sight and sound of rain outside and this was to last for quite a while off and on until it started to brighten up. Our boating neighbours on both sides wanted to leave by the 10.30am bridge lift opening this morning and so I agreed to do the same thing and followed them out to try a passage today rather than tomorrow. I waited as long as I could for the calming weather to arrive but then missed the last of the free-flow through the Honfleur sea lock and had to wait a while and be locked out with two passenger vessels.
The inner Sein estuary was not too bad but the seas deteriorated from slight to moderate the further out we went and this made for the most uncomfortable trip that we had experienced for a while. It was safe and manageable but not of the sea state that I had been aiming for in recent times and so I should have waited until the calmness of the following day as I originally planned to do. The winds were at the upper end of F4 (around 16knots) and against the tide for some of the time which was also more than forecast but, as I had predicted and explained to one of our neighbours, the sea would take time to calm down from the previous winds anyway and that was another factor. We made the passage all right despite by boating computer deciding to reboot and reset mid passage after an update was received and the only casualty of the trip was Kathleen’s special soup. She had worked hard to make this soup and was very much looking forward to enjoying it but it had been left in a saucepan in the galley fridge which fell to the floor when she opened the door after the passage! We found a nice berth in the inner Angedo Regattes marina close to the Capitanari after taking on £200-worth of diesel at the outer Anse de Joinville basin upon arrival.
Temp 20>25 deg C, RH 76>48%, Pressure 1015-1017mb rising slowlyy, good viz, slight/mod seas at upper end of F4 with breeze mainly Nly up to 16knots
